Global child malnutrition overview

Nearly half of all deaths in children under 5 are attributable to undernutrition

Undernutrition puts children at greater risk of dying from common infections, increases the frequency and severity of such infections, and contributes to delayed recovery.

Poor nutrition in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life can also lead to stunted growth, which is irreversible and associated with impaired cognitive ability and reduced school and work performance.

Forms of malnutrition

Stunting: refers to a child who is too short for his or her age. Stunting is the failure to grow both physically and cognitively and is the result of chronic or recurrent malnutrition. The devastating effects of stunting can last a lifetime.

Wasting: refers to a child who is too thin for his or her height. Wasting, or acute malnutrition, is the result of recent rapid weight loss or the failure to gain weight. A child who is moderately or severely wasted has an increased risk of death, but treatment is possible.

Map 1. Prevalence of wasting and stunting per country

The relationship between wasting and stunting

Countries with higher levels of stunting that demand immediate attention…

Graph 1. Relationship between stunting and wasting prevalence

At a regional level, South Asia is the most affected region with over 20 million children with malnutrition.

Graph 2. Number of children wasted, per region

Trends in malnutrition prevalence

Global prevalence of stunting, 1995-2015

Malnutrition rates remain alarming: stunting is declining too slowly while

Regional trends

Table 1. Wasting and stunting prevalences, 2000-2014

Data…

Disparities between malnutrition and wealth